A Deployment System for Vascular Stent Grafts on Major Arteries with Collateral Connections

Abstract

Development of a system that can deploy a stent graft to peripheral artery with a collateral vessel without blocking the collateral vessel has been undertaken to assist in treating different arterial conditions like atherosclerosis. Currently no commercially available system exists that can deploy a stent graft without inhibiting flow to the collateral vessel; surgeons must create a fenestration in the main graft through which to deploy a smaller device. The fabrication of this system involved modifying and combining prefabricated catheters to make a complete system that can deploy the stent with good turnability. The system has a port to both inject dye and insert a wire to probe for correct placement of the device fenestration. The research effort has produced prototypes of a multi-lumen intravascular catheter deployment system for stent graft placement where a stent graft can be placed via the system and proper fenestration alignment to the collateral vessel can be confirmed. This project could improve patient outcomes by providing a cost effective and safe option for inserting stents into major arteries that have a collateral vessel which is currently treated by surgeons using makeshift solutions with existing stents and ablation tools.